Windshield wiper mechanism



Jan. 3, 1950 (LR. sAccl-lml 2,493,552

wmnsmm WIPER MECHANISM Filed Jung 11, 1.945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR COLUMBUS FE SACCHIN| TTORNILY Jan. 3, 1950 c. R. SACCHINI 2,493,552

WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 HWENTOR COLUMBUS R. SAccHme A ORNEV Jan. 3, 1950 c, R. SACCHINI 2,493,552

WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVENTOFL. Coumsus R.5ACCH|NI ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1950 amass:

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to lhe Marquette Metal Products Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 11, 1945, Serial No. 59am 1 Claims.

This invention relates to motion on mechanisms, and more particularly toa mechanism comprising rigid linkages and universal couplings fortransmitting alternate rotary motion between non-parallel shafts. The invention is eminently suitable for use in window or windshield wiping installations, and is described herein as applied forthat purpose, but not by way of limitation.

The advent of the curved windshield on vehicles such as the airplane and automobile has created problems relating to the transmission of alternate rotary motion from a single power source such as a prime mover (e. g. hydraulic motor) or motion converter to a pair of windshield wiper drive arms connected to respective wiper blades. For the most satisfactory wiping action, the wiper blades are mounted on opposite sides respectively of the center line of the windshield and the power source is disposed therebetween. Furthermore, so that the wiper blades can sweep most eflectively across the curved windshield surface, the rotatable shafts upon which the drive arms are respectively mounted are preferably normal to the tangent plane of the glass panel or panels at the shaft positions, and likewise the power take-oil shaft of the power source is also normal to the tangent plane at its location or normalditionsobtained in connection with plural wiper installations on V-type Windshields.

Heretofore, flexible rotatable shafts or flexible push-pull rods have been used as the motion transmitting means between shafts disposed as above described; but "neither is entirely satisfactory because of their excessive cost, relative ineillciency, and inability to render long periods of trouble free operation.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved means for transmitting alternate rotary motion between non-parallel shafts.

Another object is to provide improved means for transmitting alternate rotary motion from a driving shaft to a pair of mutually divergent driven shafts.

Another object is to provide means comprising rigid linkages and universal couplings for rotatably driving a pair of mutually divergent driven shafts from a rotatable driving shaft parallel to neither of the driven shafts.

2 for changing push-pull motion into alternate rotarymotionandinwhichthelinearoraxialdirection of the push-pull motion the cycle.

Amore speciilcobiectistoprovide animproved windshield wiping mechanism operable for wiping a curved surface.

' A correlative object isv to improved mechanism for drivingapairofwindshieldwipers to and fro across spaced and cylindrically curved windshield areas from a single source take-o means of a power som'ce.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred form shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isamotiondiagramofatypicalmechanism in accordance with this invention;

Fig.2isafragmentarytopplanviewofdiiferent portions ofthe mechanism associated with respective portions of a curved windshield;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are central longitudinal views of a universal coupling and of a window unit, respectively, and

Fi .6isadetailfrontelevationalviewofa portion of the m Referring principally to Fig. 1, the herein described embodiment of the invention is a math:

transmitting and converting capable of driving a plurality of windshield wiper blades to and fro across respective areas ll of a cylindrically curved window or windshield A (cf. Fig. 2) in response to alternate rotary motion of a 'shaft having anaxis ll whichisnormalto the 40 tions it andbrokenline positions ll. Movement isimpartedtothewiperbladesasaresultof alternate rotary motion of wiper blade drive arms about respective axes it between extreme positions it and II.

The alternate rotary motion of the drive onus is eil'ected through respective rigid links indicated at it and 2. and operatively disposed between respectlve opposing outer end portions of a double-ended crank arm 2i, medially pivoted ontheaxis ,andtheendportionsoftherespective wiper blade drive arms which, as shown in Fig. 1, are on opposite sides (top, Fig. 1) of the respective axis II from the wiper blades. Rotary movement of the wiper blades about their respec- Another object is to provide a motion converter I tive transverse axes I: may be prevented by revariesduring thei'explanatbnofthegeneralproblan preoaited,reiueneemaybehadtoFig.2and

Briefly, in accordance with this invention, means universal joints or couplings pomihlefm'thelinksllandlltoberigid. f

vInllllgs.2to6thecyiindricallycurvedwindshiekinissuitablysupportedasinacbanneled irameorcusmtllcarried'byabodypanel Cof avehhle (not shown) and may be divided into,

twospaeedportiimasiudimtedinllmlorof one-pieeeasshowninl 'ig2. The motion-:andconverting-mechanism rollfreelytherelnouthewallsurfaceoitheopenin! 55. The wall surfaces 35 are of suiiicient extent so that in the limited universal relative movement allowed the component parts 35 and 40 in actual operation the balls cannot mil oi! the spherical surface of the opening 39 but annular comm-hes generally a pair of identical motion converters awindow lmits 24 driven through respectivepmh-pullrods 25 by amotive unit 25 which'maybeeitherahydraulicmotororamotionconvertercapohleofreceiving power from a conventional electric motor and imparting alternaterotarymotiimtoapowertake-oiishaft 25. Themotiveunit25maybesecuredasbya capscrew 25 (Pig. 3) to an inverted L-shaped bracketllmountedinsideoi the vehicleonthe panelqandismeferablydisposedslightlyabove andmediallybetweenthespaced'areasil (Fig.1) otthewindshieldawhicharetobewiped. Said .unitlicoufiofm,beotherwisesupported.

Acrankarmfl (Pigaiiandd) ismoimteduponanouterendportionofthe shatt25andispreferablysecuredagainstrela-' tiverotatilmwiflirupecttotheshai'tbyasplined, e. g. serrated, (not shown) thereby permittmgthemolmtingofthearminvarlous adjmtedturnedposimanutflbeingthreaded overthemiteremlportionoftheshafttohold stituteuniversal joints and'are'disp'osedindriving relatltmship between the opposite end portionsrespeetlvelyoi'thearmllandtherespectivepush-pullrods 25. 'lherods25maybetubularifdflmda'mlidasindicatedinl'igj.

hchottheflcomprisesanelongatedbodymember (Fig.4) havingathreaded axialsocketlllnacylindricalendportionfl and a'transverseopening II of approximate sphericalcmhmrinanoppositeflattenedend portionflb. dtubularbmhingflhavingan azialopenirgmklooeelyreceivedintheopeningllandlnsanenlargedcentralportionproa pair of axially spaced annular grooves42aroundits'outerperlpher'y. 'Apluralib ofballsflarereceivedin'thesrcoves and lnturned flanges (not shown) may be formed as by peening operations at opposite ends of the spherical opening 25' to prevent accidental disassembly of the coupling'parts prionto installation in the mechanism hereof.

In the embodiment of the engine control coupling, illustrated in Fig. 4, a broken line 45 indicates the maximum turned position of the body 35 in one direction with respect to the transverse axis of the bushing 45 to be about twenty degrees from the central or normal position shown in solid lines.

The bushings 45 ot the couplings are rotatably mounted on the clevis pins 34, respectively (Figs. 2 and 6), and the inner end portions of the push-pull rods 25 are adjustably threaded into the sockets 25 ofthe respective couplings. Because of the threaded connection between the couplings 55 and push-pull rods 25 not only is universal action provided between the crank arm.

3i and the rods 25, but also by merely screwing the rods a selected distance into the socket 15. an adjusfln'ent is made in the effective length of the rods thereby to adapt the mechanism for installations of difl'erent dimensions and to permit selection of the position of the respective areas I. to be wiped.

Theouterendportionofeachoftherods 25is bifurcated as at 45 thereby to constitute a clevis which is provided with a transverse bore for receiving a cievis pin 45. Fiattened upper end portions 45 of operating arms 55 in, the form'of threadedrodsorboltsarebetweenthe legs of the respective clevises 45and are rotatably received upon the clevis pins 45, respectively, as by passing the pins through 5| (Pig. 5) in the arms 55.

Eachoftheoperatingarms" formsapartof its respective window unit 24. Each of said units additionally comm-lacs a body member 52 (Fig. 5) preferably formed of brass or bronze and havingarectangularblockportionflandanelongated tubularportion 55. The axial opening 55 ofthetubularportionoteachofthebodymemhers 52 extends through the block-portion 54 and has a. counterbore 55 at the end portion within vthe. block portion. A self-oiling hearing or bushenlargedheadportionfl providedwithathreaded transverse or diametral bore which extends through the head portion 5| and into which a threaded portion 52 of the ted operating armllisreceived. Eachoftheshafts 55isadditionally provided with a splined (longitudinally serrated) portion 53 contiguous to a threaded outer end portion 54. both portions 53 and 54 extendlngoutwardlybeyondtheouterendofthe tubular portion 55.

Opposing elongated slots 55 in the block portion 54ineachofthewindcwimitbodvmembers 52 open into the counterbore 55 to provide clearance for swinging movement of the associated arm 55. Paired. hardened'liners in the form of apertureddiscsorwashem 55aredisposedinthe respective slots 55 to prevent the threaded portiom 52 of the arms 55 from abrasive wearing 15 millstthesidewalisottheslots.

respective openings atoms:

The window units a are suitably mounted above and in medial relation with respect to the respective area ll (Fig.1) to be wiped. Prefer-,

ably, each of the units 24 is held inposition against a channel member 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) as by a cap screw 88 and a stud 5!. The stud '9 has axially spaced innerand outer threaded portions for receiving nuts II and I3, respectively. The channel 81 is suitably secured to the body panel C inside thereof and the screws 55, studs 69, and tubular portions "of bodies 52 pass through respective aligned openings in the channel, and panel as well as in respective bearing plates 'II, the nuts" being turned onto the threaded inner end portions of the screws and studs. respectively. The-splined portions 63 and threaded portions M of the respective shafts II are thus disposed outside of the vehicle. The extreme outer end portions a of the studs 8! are provided with respective cotter key openings 59b (Fig. 2) and the adjacent outer threaded portions receive the respective nuts I; which bear against the bearing plate .ll.

When mounted as above described and as clearly shown in Fig. 2, it is apparent that the shafts 50 diverge outwardly of the vehicle and of the windshield panel A as do the corresponding axes l5 of Fig. 1 and thus are not parallel to the power output shaft 28 of the motive unit 25 which latter shaft corresponds with the axis ll of Fig. 1.

Wiper blade drive arms 12 (Fig. 3) are received in adjusted turned positions on the splined portions 64 of the shafts 60, respectively, and are held thereon by respective nuts ll. The arms 12 have the usual pivoted and inwardly springbiased lower end portions I5 mounting respective saddles 16 upon which wiper blades I. having squeegee strips 19 are pivoted in a suitable manner. For holding the blades ll in a vertical position and against rotary movement about their pivotal axes, respective tie rods I. (Fig. 6) have their upper end portions 55a of the respective studs 69 and their lower end portions rotatably mounted on respective pins (not shown) rigidly secured to the saddles 16 but laterally displaced from the wiper blades as indicated by the lines 22 of Fig. 1 If desired, the tie rods ll may be of adjustable length as by forming them of two threaded telescoping parts having a locking means such as a nut 8| (Fig. 6).

In operation, alternate rotary motion of the power output shaft 25 causes toand fro swinging movement of the crank arm 3| and consequent to and fro generally axially directed movement of the push rods 25. Since the shafts 50 and 28 are not parallel, to and fro movement of the rods 25 is accompanied by universal action of the couplings 35 and slight rotation of the arms 50 about the axes of the screw threads of said arms with respect to the shafts 60. Thus universal action of the window units 24 as well as of the couplings 35 combine to provide complete freedom of movement for the rigid rods 25. In other words, the couplings 35 and the window units 24, because of the universal action provided thereby, permit the direction of axial or linear movement of the push-pull rods 25 to vary during the operating cycle.

It is apparent that by adjusting the effective length of the rods-25, the areas I. swept by the blades can be selected with respect to the transverse dimentions of the windshield. and that by varying the distance that the threaded arms 50 are screwed into the shafts 5|, adjustment can be made of the width ofthe areas ll. As shown by broken lines in Fig. 6, one or both of the threaded arms I. may be threaded into the openings in the shafts II from the bottom thereof thereby to reverse the relative direction of swing ing motion between the arm ii and the wiper other arm above the associated shaft, as in Fig.

2, the wiper of one window unit will be swung in the same direction as will the wiper of the other unit, whereas with. the connections made according to the diagram Fig. 1 the wipers swing oppositely of each other.

It is further apparent that for windshields of greater curvature than that shown (smaller radius) an additional universal connection (not shown) may be interposed between the shaft ll and'the wiper blade drive arm as, for example, disclosed in my application Serial No. 544,593, filed July 12, 1944.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for transmitting alternate rotary motion between spaced non-parallel shafts, crank arms on said shafts respectively, a

rigid link operatively connecting said crank arms,

a universal couplingmeans-interposed between one of said crank arms and one end of said link, said othercrank arm being rotatable about its own axis, and means constituting a pivotal connection between said other end of said link and said other crank arm. a

2. In a mechanism for transmitting alternate rotary motion between laterally spaced nonparallel shafts, a first crank arm rigidly secured to one of said shafts, a second crank arm mounted by the other of said shafts for rotation about its own axis, a rigid link operatively connecting said crank arms, a universal coupling means interposed between one end of said link and said first crank arm, and means constituting a pivotal connection between the other. end of said link and said second crank arm.

3. In a mechanism for transmitting alternate rotary motion, laterally spaced non-parallel shafts, crank arms on said shafts respectively, a rigid link having its opposite end portions operatively connected to said crank arms respectively, one of the connections including a universal coupling between the connected parts and means permitting said other crank arm to rotate about its own axis upon lateral movement of said link during a working cycle.

4. In a mechanism for transmitting alternate rotary motion between laterally spaced nonparallel shafts, a first crank arm on one of said shafts, a threaded transverse opening in the other of said shafts, a second crank arm rotatably received in and in threaded engagement with said opening, a rigid link, a universal coupling means operatively connecting one end of said link and said first crank arm, and means constituting a pivotal connection between the other end of said link and said second crank arm.

5. In a mechanism for transmitting alternate rotary motion between laterally spaced nonparallel shafts, a first crank arm mounted by one of said shafts, a universal coupling means pivoted on the outer end of said first crank arm, a pushpull rod operatively secured to said universal coupling means, a second crank arm mounted for rotation about its own axis, and a pivotal connection between the outer end portion of said second crank arm and the end .portion of said push-pull rod remote from said universal 6. In a motion converting mechanism, a driving shaft," adapted to be driven by alternate rotary motion, a pair of mutually non-parallel driven shafts laterally spaced from said driving shaft, crank arms rotatably mounted by. said driven shafts respectively and capable of rotation about their respective axes, a double-ended crank arm mounted by said driving shaft, and push rod means including respective universal joint means pivoted on opposing ends of I said doubleended I crank arms respectively and: to respective driven shafts.

7. A motion transmitting and converting inconanism comprising a driving shaft, adapted to be driven by alternate rotary motion,'a pair of mutually non-parallel driven shafts, crank, arms mounted by said driven shafts, respectively. said crank arms each being rotatable about its own 1 rotary motion from. a-drive shaft to two driven axis, a double-ended crank arm mounted by said driving shaft, rigid links interposed between opposing ends of said double-ended crank arm and said axially rotatable crank arms, respectively, and means constituting a universal coupling connecting one end of each link with one of the associated crank arms.

8. In a motion, converting and transmitting mechanism for' a windshield wiper, a shaft mounted for alternate rotary motion and adapted to support a wiper blade, a threaded transverse opening in said shaft, means constituting a crank arm received in said opening for rotation about the axis of said opening, a'rigidlink pivotally mounted at the outer end portion of said crank arm means, and means guiding said rigid link for push-pull motion which during an operating cycle varies in direction with respect to the axis of said shaft. i

9. In a windshield wiping mechanism, a shaft mounted for alternate rotary motion and adapted to. drive a wiper blade, a screw threaded transshafts in non-parallel relation to the drive shaft and to each other,'said mechanism comprising lever means on the drive shaft, substantially rigid push-pull rods and universal joints respectively coupling the rods to the lever means for simultaneous axial reciprocation of the'rods by the 'lever means, and universal driving connections, each including a crank arm in radially fixed but swiveled relation to a respective driven shaft between the driven shafts and respective rods. COLUMBUS R. SACCHINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flleofthispatent:

UNITED s'rATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 634,205 Diehl et al Oct. 3, 1899 1,275,288 Moore 'Aug. 13, 1918 1,510,509 Stadeker Oct. 7, 1924 1,641,683 Malouf -L. Sept. 6, 1927 1,733,910 Schmisch Oct. 29, 1929 1,776,746 Bantin Sept. 23, 1930 1,776,747 Bantin j Sept. 23, 1930 2,045,128 Dystra June 23, 1936 2,184,700 Horton Dec. 26, 1939 2,232,480 Schmid Feb. 18, 1941 2,252,350 v Paulus Aug. 12, 1941 

